Match holder and dispenser.



A. EATON.

MATCH HOLDER AND DISPENSER;

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26.1912.

Patented a1. 12, 19l&

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

L mm m A. EATON.

MATCH HOLDER AND DISPENSER. APPLlCATiON FILED JULY 26,1911.

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ANTON EATON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A-SSIGNOR TO JOHN ERICSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MATCH HOLDER AND DISPENSER.

12 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

Application filed July 26, 1917. Serial No. 182,823.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. ANTON EATON, a c1t1- zen of Switzerland, residing in the city of New York, corough and county of Queens, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Match Holders and Dispensers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to that class of devices in which a single match is separated mechanically from the supply and presented in position to be taken by the user.

The primary object of the invention is to Provide a dispenser of this character which shall be simple in construction and operation, offer a safe receptacle for the supply of matches and not liable to derangement or to failure to present the match.

Another important object is to provide mechanism for selecting and presenting the match which shall be positive in its action and operated automatically by the act of removing the presented match.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement by which the above objects are attained to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and showan approved form of the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the dis penser with a match presented in the movable carrier ready for removal.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding vertical section, taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 and partly in elevation. The dotted lines show the movable parts in the position assumed in removing the presented match.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section and elevation, taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. i is a plan view of certain portions, partly in approximately horizontal section.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the fixed portion or casing of the dispenser, partly in vertical section.

Fig. 6 is a plan view and approximately horizontal section, taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The device comprises two main portions, preferably of sheet metal, a stationary portion or casing which contains the supply of matches, and the movable portion or carrier by which the single match is selected and presented.

The fixed portion or casing consists of a back plate A adapted to hang vertically against a wall or other support to which it is secured, having forwardly projecting sides or wings A A extending partially up the front to provide a cavity or recess in which the carrier is mounted and guided, and a front plate A forming with the up per ends of the wings a closed box or receptacle A adapted to contain a supply of matches, and having a bottom or deck A extending forwardly from the back plate part way to the front, thus providing an opening in the bottom of the receptacle.

The movable portion or carrier is mounted to swing inwardly and outwardly between the Wings A A supported on bearings C C on the black plate A near its lower end, and extends upwardly to the receptacle above. It comprises a back plate B and two side plates B B carrying a curved rearwardly extending plate or apron B following a radius from the bearings C and lying beneath the deck A and an outwardly extending continuation of such plate, B serving with the plate B as a movable bottom beneath the opening in the box or receptacle A Between the curved plates 13 B is a slot or transverse opening 6 extending the full width of the carrier between the sides B B a distance a little greater than the length of a match and having a width a little greater than the thickness of such match, forming the receiving orifice for an open channel D through which the matches are successively delivered. The rear wall of the channel is formed by the back plate B and its bottom by a forwardly extending clownwardly inclined deck B and its front wall formed by a plate D parallel with the back plate B, from which extends an inclined plate D parallel with and above the deck B and forming the top of the channel.

The carrier is drawn inwardly toward the plate A by a spring E and may be drawn outwardly against the force of the spring by a lug D on the plate D the inward movement being limited by stops A on the casing, and the outward movement by flanges B on the sides B contacting with edges F formed by notching the margins of a plate or brace F set between the wings A A at the front, secured by screws F F and thus confining the carrier.

The fixed plate A located in the rear lower part of the box A has a downwardly projecting flange or partition G forming an inner wall in the receptacle and in effect a continuation of the carrier-back-plate Bv when the carrier is at the end of its inward movement, and the inclined lower part of the front plate A terminates in coincidence with the plate D when the carrier is at the end of its outward movement, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 22 Thus the slot 29. is presented at the front part of the box A*' by the outward movement, and immediately adjacent the partition G by the inward movement.

Hinged at h on the plate B is a lever having arms H extending through slots b b and adapted to reach across the channel D. The lever is subject to the force of a spring H tending thus to obstruct the ehannehand is held in the elevated position by the cam action of a fixed projecting spur H upon the tongue H of the lever, thus holding the arms H in the withdrawn condition when the carrier is drawn to the inward position by the action of the spring E.

Onthe same back face of the plate B is a bar .1 having fingers J J arranged to, projectthrough slots 6 6 into the channel D at about the thickness of a match above the arms H The forward vertical edges of the fingers are serrated to, engage lightly the side surface of a match, and are retracted by light spring arms J J on which the bar J is mounted, attached tothe backplate B of the carrier. On each of these spring arms is secured one end of a V-shaped spring J J the free end of which contacts against the innerface of the back plate A of the casing, when the carrier is in its inward position, with sufficient force to overcome the outward tendency of the spring arms J 2 and thrust the fingers J J5 with gentle force into the channel D.

The channel plates B D are deeply notched centrally" at; their outer ends to expose the middle portion of the match and to admit the finger and thumb in grasping and removing the match, and the lower plate B is further notched laterally at each side to receive spring arms K K secured to the under face of the plate B having upwardly inclined ends adapted to contact with the under face of the plate D with yielding force su-iiicient to bar the escape of a match. And when the, carrier is in its inward position the spring arms K K are stiffened or reinforced by fingers K K carried by the spring armsand extending downwardly and riding: upon the upper surface of the brace F1 When the carrier is in the outward position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the fingers K K leave the brace F' and project forwardly thereof, permittting the match to be forcibly withdrawn against the gentle movable deck opposition offered by the spring arms K K alone.

Engaged loosely by spurs received in housings A on the fixed back plate A is a L having lugs L received in slots 9 in, the fixed deck A and extending forwardly into the box A-; it serves to prevent t-hematches. M crowding rearwardly against the partition G and massing in the neighborhood of the slot a.

N is a loose plate or follower loosely fitting the interior of the receptacle A and adapted to l-ieupon the mass of matches supported mainly by the plate L, and serving to aid in maintaining the matches in a compact m-assand in parallelism with each other throughout the mass.

The operation of the device is as follo-ws:-Assuming the box A to be partially filled with matches M all lying transversely therein, apull on the lug; D of the carrier moves the latter forward and presents the slot 6 adjacent the inclined portion of the front plate A of the box, and a number of matches enter the receiving end of the channel- D, supported on the arms H which in this position of; the carrier extend across the channel. On releasing the carrier the spring E draws it rearwardly and the arms retract on reachingthe spur H but before the lowermost match is thus released the next above is engaged by" the fingers J and is held with those above it while the released lowermost match rolls down the channel D= until arrested by theendsof thespring arms K K, and lies extended across the notches in the plates B D conveniently presented for removal".

In removing the match it is grasped by the finger and thumb and the effort to disengage it from the spring arms K K results in swinging forward the whole carrier intothe position; ll ig. 2, which the lower fingers K K es,- cape from the surf-acev of the brace F and the arms K K thus freed topermit the match to be withdrawn.

This forward movement permits the matches in the vertical portion of the channel D to descend as before until arrested by the arms H- I P, and onthe return movement of the carrier induced by the spring-E,

shown in dotted lines in the lowermost" match is released as above most match is permitted to fall and traverse the inclined portion of the channel D.

Each forward oscillation of the carrier presents the open mouth or slot Z) of the channel to the forward part of the receptacle in favorable position to replenish the series from the supply, and in the return movement any surplus is swept back by the movable deck L which also serves to arrange the lower layers of matches in proper lateral positions and in the desired parallelism.

The movable deck L serves an important function; by reason of its extension toward the front of the receptacle it reduces the opening through which the matches may pass to the carrier and thus limits the number of matches accumulating in the immediate vicinity of the slot 6. By its proximity to the upper face of the carrier it tends to produce a single layer of matches beneath it, and in the event of two or more matches riding upon each other and carried inwardly by the return movement of the carrier, the deck L may lift to permit their passage without clogging the mechanism, and the lugs L presented above the fixed deck A by such lifting movement, insures against the entrance or lodgment of a match between the decks A and L, which would prevent the descent of the latter.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions of the parts within wide limits without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing its advantages.

The parts are shown as connected and assembled by simply engaging suitable lugs or projections in corresponding slots or housings and the whole permanently joined by the screws F F engaged with the brace F, but the several parts may be otherwise connected and the device shaped or ornamented as desired to enhance its appearance.

Although the invention is shown and described as serving to dispense matches, it will be understood that it may serve with other articles or objects to which it may be adapted.

I claim 1. In a device of the character set forth, a fixed match receptacle having an opening in its bottom, a fixed wall in said receptacle at the inner margin of such opening, a movable carrier closing such opening and having a slot arranged to be adjacent said wall at one end of the movement of said carrier, and a movable plate extending from said wall above and partially across such opening and overlapping such slot when the latter is presented adjacentsaid wall.

2. In a device of the character set forth, a fixed match receptacle having an opening in its bottom, a movable carrier closing such opening and having a match-receiving slot,

a delivery channel in said carrier leading from said slot, arms arranged to extend into said channel and support the lowermost of a series of superposed matches therein, fingers arranged to extend into said channel above said arms and adapted to engage a match in said series above the lowermost, and means for introducing and retracting said arms and fingers.

3. In a device of the character set forth, a fixed match receptacle having an opening in its bottom, a movable carrier closing such opening and having a match-receiving slot, a delivery channel in said carrier leading from such slot, arms arranged to extend into said channel and support the lowermost of a series of superposed matches therein, fingers arranged to extend into said channel above said arms and engage a match in said series above the lowermost, and means actuated by the movements of said carrier for introducing and retracting said arms and fingers.

4c. In a device of the character set forth, a fixed match receptacle having an opening in its bottom, a carrier closing such opening and mounted to swing beneath said receptacle and having a match-receiving slot, a downwardly extending delivery channel in said carrier leading from such slot, yielding means closing the delivery mouth of said channel in one position of said carrier, and means actuated by the movement of said carrier to another position for releasing said yielding means.

5. In a device of the character set forth, a fixed casing, a match receptacle therein having an opening in its bottom, a movable carrier closing such opening and having a match-receiving slot, at delivery channel in said carrier leading from such slot, a lever mounted on said carrier and having arms arranged to extend into said channel, and having a tongue, a spur on said casing adapted to coact with said tongue and actuate said lever by the movements of said carrier, spring fingers mounted on said carrier and arranged to extend into said channel above said arms, and yielding means actuated by the movements of said carrier for introducing and retracting said fingers.

6. In a device of the character set forth, a fixed match receptacle having an opening in its bottom, a fixed wall in said receptacle at the inner margin of such opening, a movable carrier closing such opening and having a slot arranged to be adjacent said wall at one end of the movement of said carrier, a movable plate extending from said wall above and partially across such opening and overlapping such slot when the latter is presented adjacent said wall, and a loose follower in said receptacle above said plate.

7. A. fixed casing having side wings, a match receptacle in said casing having an opening in its bottom, a pivotally mounted carrier arranged to swing beneath said receptacle and close such opening, and having a match-receiving slot, a brace between said wings and inclosing said carrier, stops for limiting the swing of the latter in both directions, a spring tending to draw said carrier toward said casing, a delivery channel in said carrier leading from such slot, means actuated by the oscillations of said carrier for controlling the delivery of matches through said channel, yielding means controlling the delivery mouth of said channel, and means coacting with said brace for releasing said yielding means.

8. A fixed casing, a match receptacle therein having an opening in its bottom, a movable carrier closing such opening and having a match-receiving slot and movable in one direction by the withdrawal of a match, said carrier having a delivery channel lead- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents ing from said slot, means controlling said channel and actuated by the movements of said carrier for delivering matches singly through said channel to the mouth thereof, means at such mouth for yieldingly holding a match thus presented, and a spring for moving said carrier in the opposite direction when released by the release of such match.

9. In a device of the character set forth, a receptacle for the articles to be dispensed, in combination with a movable tensioned carrier adapted to transfer such articles and position them for removal singly therefrom, a match-holding member movable with the carrier and means whereby said carrier is moved outwardly by the act of removing such presented single article.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature.

ANTON EATO each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

